I took my first long-distance Amtrak ride on short notice. Here are 5 mistakes I'd try to avoid next time.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author selfie and view of Amtrak train from outside
I took a 20-hour Amtrak trip on a whim amid airport chaos. I made some rookie mistakes along the way.

Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider

My family and I visited Bangkok for the first time. The trip was amazing, but it would've been better if we avoided these 5 mistakes.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A wide shot of Wat Arun Temple at sunset in Bangkok.
I wish my family and I had avoided these five mistakes while visiting Bangkok for the first time.

Guitar photographer/Shutterstock

I spent 48 hours in Chicago for the first time and left with 4 regrets

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A view of Millennium Park in Chicago in the winter
A Business Insider reporter has some regrets about her first trip to Chicago.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I took my first cruise and made 10 mistakes that spoiled my voyage

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author wearing pants and a sweater on the top deck of a cruise ship
Business Insider's reporter took her first cruise on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My family's first trip to South Korea was great, but it would've been even better if I'd avoided these 5 mistakes

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Jamie Davis Smith smiling in front of view of trees in distance
Although my family had a great time on our trip to Seoul, there were a few small mistakes I wish we had avoided, plus some itinerary changes that would've made our travels even better.

Jamie Davis Smith

I spent 53 hours in a bedroom on an Amtrak train for $2,200 and made 5 mistakes

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author sits looking out a window to the right in the Amtrak bedroom
The author made some mistakes on board the California Zephyr.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I visited Colombia for the first time with my partner. My trip would've been better if I'd known these 4 things.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A street in Cartagena, Colombia.
I loved exploring Colombia, but there are several things I wish I'd known when planning my itinerary.

Jennifer Adams

We're full-time travelers in our 50s who've been to over 50 countries. Here are 5 of the biggest mistakes we've made.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author and her husband posing in Paris at night with the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the background.
My husband and I have made some mistakes since we started traveling full-time.

Shelly Peterson

I visited 3 national parks in one long weekend with my best friend. I don't regret it, but I'd never do it again.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The writer and her friend standing in front of mountains at Sequoia National Park.
captiontk sequoia

Alexis Telyczka

I visited New Zealand for the first time. These are the biggest mistakes I made, even as a seasoned solo traveler.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Ashley Probst smiling over aerial view of New Zealand
Even seasoned travelers get things wrong, but every misstep serves as a lesson to help the next trip — or traveler — avoid the same pitfalls.

Ashley Probst

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